Ch.115Victory Report 7

I stared down at the completed Victory Report.

My sister wore an enchanted expression at the beautiful cocktail’s color.

But I couldn’t smile the same way she did.

My cocktail had lost its light.

Just like when I first became possessed.

Everything had reset, like when I was living as Dohyun.

I look at my palm.

Clearly, my body hasn’t changed at all.

Only my abilities were taken away.

But with that alone, bartending—my reason for existence—had disappeared.

“…”

“Um… Siho?”

Jisoo looks up at me cautiously.

Her bronze eyes seem concerned about me.

“Ah, yes… here’s your Victory Report.”

I pushed the glass toward her with trembling hands.

The glass wobbled precariously in the process.

“The color is really pretty…”

“…”

She immediately caught that something was wrong with me.

She carefully takes a sip of the Victory Report while watching my reaction.

Only one and a half stars…

How could I serve such a low-quality drink to my sister whom I’ve just reunited with?

She’ll definitely be disappointed.

After all, this special drink we were supposed to share after hunting the wyvern turned out like this.

Am I once again… only showing my sister my pathetic side?

I staggered and barely managed to grab the shelf.

Even the ears on my head drooped.

I didn’t want to show this side of myself.

It’s shameful to reveal how disappointed I am in myself.

But at that moment…

“Wow…”

As my head was filling with ink-black thoughts, my sister let out an exclamation.

At that sound, my clouded pupils flickered.

My gaze immediately focused on the beautiful brown-haired woman.

Looking at her golden eyes, my own eyes regained their vitality.

“This is so delicious…! Better than I expected!”

She smiled brightly.

The moment I saw that radiant smile, my body melted.

Because I had longed for that smile my entire life.

An ache rises in my chest.

That ache climbs up my throat and makes my eyes burn.

I covered my mouth with the back of my hand to hide it.

“It’s smooth like milk and refreshing like fruit. I’ve never tasted anything like this…”

I trembled while tightly gripping the dishcloth.

With quivering lips, I ask her:

“Don’t lie…”

“How could such a low-grade cocktail taste good…”

“Are you forcing yourself to smile again, making me delude myself like back then?”

At my question, my sister’s smile quickly disappeared.

She’ll probably show her displeasure and get angry with me.

Then we’ll grow distant again, and she’ll set off on her journey separately.

With someone other than Dohyun.

I sincerely hope that happens.

I can’t travel with her again in this state.

“What are you saying?”

She speaks to me in a serious voice.

I closed my eyes, ready to savor her criticism.

But.

“I’m saying it because it really is delicious.”

She held out her empty glass to me.

A glass completely emptied without leaving a drop.

She had even licked off all the sugar coating the rim.

My sister gave me that same sympathetic smile from back then.

“You sound just like Dohyun.”

“That child was always self-critical and full of doubt about himself.”

“Whenever that happened, I always told him this.”

My sister stood up from her seat.

And placing the empty glass in front of me, she smiled brightly.

“Who’s good at something from the start?”

“It’s already delicious enough, but I can see room for improvement.”

“What could be more joyful than knowing you can still grow?”

My sister said while spinning the empty glass.

“…”

I stared at Jisoo.

Yes, I definitely had reached my peak before.

When every cocktail I made became 5-star.

And beyond that, even creating artifacts.

But I wasn’t happy at all.

I used those masterpieces to harm others instead.

A bartender should create the best drink for their customers.

But I used them to hurt people.

Perhaps I had already forfeited my qualification as a bartender back then.

And now.

I’ve lost all my abilities, with only a faint healing power remaining.

Just like Dohyun back then.

Perhaps this situation…

Is telling me to forget that time and start over from the beginning.

The second chance that Angel has given me.

“Shall we make it again, then?”

“Yes. The next glass will definitely be more delicious.”

“Alright…”

I pressed my lips tightly together.

And once again, I turn the glass to prepare for bartending.

“—.”

<Victory Report>

Grade: ★★ (Ordinary)

Effect: None.

Information: Second attempt at Victory Report. Ordinary. The grade improved slightly due to better proportions. However, it cannot escape mediocrity.

“…”

<Victory Report>

Grade: ★☆ (Ordinary)

Effect: None.

Information: Third attempt at Victory Report. A bit more Galliano went in during preparation. Grade decreased due to recipe error. Not much difference in taste.

“…”

<Victory Report>

Grade: ★

Effect: None.

Information: Fourth attempt at Victory Report. The proportions of various ingredients were ruined during preparation. Might cause discomfort if drunk carelessly.

My expression grows increasingly darker.

Seeing this, my sister clenches both hands and says:

“Don’t give up. Think about making it for someone and do it calmly.”

I don’t know how much longer I need to continue this farce.

I’ve essentially given up already, yet my sister keeps enthusiastically encouraging me.

Right.

This is who my sister was.

Someone who consistently cheers for others’ success.

A kind person who wishes for others’ bright futures.

Let me try once more.

I should at least match her encouragement.

I pressed my lips firmly together.

The ears on my head stand up straight and tense.

And I poured all my concentration into bartending.

Solely for my sister.

I put ice in a well-cleaned glass and swirl it around.

I add Galliano and juices to the shaker and shake it briskly.

I pour the contents and top with coconut cream.

Finally, I coat the rim with pineapple juice and attach sugar…

<Victory Report Made with Siho’s Dedication>

Grade: ★★☆

Effect: Stability +5 increase. (Uncommon)

Information: Victory Report that Siho completed after more than five attempts. Perfect recipe proportions with added dedication.

“I did it…!”

I shouted with overwhelming joy.

My sister also jumps up and down in delight.

“See, I told you you could do it!”

Without even tasting the completed drink, we grabbed each other’s hands.

We interlocked fingers and excitedly jumped around together.

“Well… shall we taste it now?”

I confidently handed her the cocktail.

With a grade of 2.5 stars, it’s similar to the gin and tonic I once made for Jeoksa.

It means there’s still room for growth.

Just because my abilities were taken away doesn’t mean the buffs completely disappeared.

If I work hard again, I can develop them like before.

My sister carefully took the glass I offered.

And takes a light sip.

“—!”

But her expression darkened after tasting it.

What’s this… could it be that it doesn’t have much flavor?

She looks at me with serious eyes.

Seeing my wavering gaze, she approaches me.

And whispers softly.

“It’s. SO. Delicious!!”

She shouted in a vibrant voice.

My fox ears nearly fell off my head because of it.

Her rich brown hair dances.

The subtle banana fragrance from her hair made me excited too.

I’m happy.

That the moment I’ve always dreamed of has become reality.

I want to live forever with my sister, Anna, and Jeoksa!

But that wish didn’t last long.

Time was approaching 5 o’clock, and a customer had arrived.

“Ah… are you not open?”

The middle-aged customer scratches his head, looking at the Victory Reports scattered on the table.

Having gained confidence, I decide to serve a customer for the first time in a while.

Waving my hands, I tell him:

“No, please come in!”

I hurriedly clean up the table.

Seeing me like this, my sister also comes behind the counter to help.

“Ah, it’s okay. I’ll do it all.”

“No, after drinking so much good alcohol-.”

She smiled brightly as she cleared away the glasses.

I couldn’t say anything for a moment, captivated by that smile.

“Now, sir. What would you like to drink?”

Jisoo kindly asked the middle-aged man.

Her unique kindness brings a smile to the man’s face as well.

“Let’s see-, how about a gin and tonic to start?”

“Gin and tonic…”

I repeated those words in my mind.

The first cocktail I made for Jeoksa.

I think it had 2.5 stars on my first attempt.

If I make it the same way, I should succeed without issue this time too.

I clenched my trembling hands.

It’s okay, I just made a 2.5-star Victory Report for my sister.

I tried to calm myself internally.

And I made the gin and tonic exactly as I did before.

I fill a glass with clear, refreshing alcohol.

Bubbles float around, and a lime is perched on the rim.

I handed it to the man.

He seemed satisfied with the visual, raising the corners of his mouth.

And naturally brought the glass to his lips.

But…

“…”

After taking just one sip.

He frowned.

And as if wondering if he had drunk it wrong, he shakes his head and takes another sip.

But shaking his head once didn’t change the taste.

He drank only half of the gin and tonic before gathering his coat.

“You’re leaving already?”

My sister, who was clearing glasses, hadn’t seen the man’s expression.

When she asked the hastily departing man, he forced a smile and said:

“Ah, I got a call from work.”

He hadn’t received any calls since arriving at the bar.

But he quickly got up from his seat.

“…”

I stared down at the glass I had made.

<Gin and Tonic>

Grade: ★

Effect: None.

Information: Gin and tonic made by Siho. Too little gin and too much tonic water. As a result, the gin flavor is barely noticeable, and it’s become a sweet soft drink.

If not careful, one could be accused of skimping on alcohol.

“The proportions are wrong again…”

I muttered to myself.

Right, this is reality.

Just because I made one good Victory Report doesn’t mean my abilities have recovered.

I became lost in thought.

Once again, a melancholic feeling constricts my entire body.

But, before I knew it, my sister approached and massaged my shoulders.

“—!”

I hunched my shoulders tightly at that strong pressure.

The ears on my head stood up straight, and I involuntarily bared my teeth.

“How did you know I was feeling down?”

When I asked while holding my sore shoulder, my sister smiled brightly.

She points to my head with her finger.

“These cute ears told me you were feeling blue!”

“Damn…”

I tried to cover my perked-up ears.

But the traitorous ears only stood up more rigidly.

“It’s okay. You’ve only been practicing for a short time.”

She picked up the gin and tonic the man had left behind.

And after downing it in one shot, she makes an exclamation.

“Whew-!”

Seeing that, even my face, which had been trying to look depressed, broke into a laugh.

“Now, let’s serve one more customer!”

“Alright…”

I nodded bitterly.

Right.

This is just the beginning.

It wouldn’t be fun if everything was perfect from the start.

Even if I get criticized, I’ll apologize proudly and keep trying!

“—.”

Just then, the doorbell rings.

My sister whispers to me to stay strong.

“Here comes another customer. Fighting!”

I pressed my lips together and clenched both hands.

And greeted the approaching customers in a loud voice.

“Welcome to Moment—”

But my lips suddenly froze.

The appearance of the customers before me was alarming.

“Is this the place they say has killer drinks?”

A man with a fierce face and a hideous axe on his back.

A warrior so massive he could completely block my body.

“Don’t cause a scene. Sister said to wait quietly.”

The two men converse in heavy voices.

Are they hunter killers operating amid the guild’s unrest?

As they stood before us, my sister and I involuntarily hiccupped.

We held each other’s hands and trembled.

“Hic…”

My fox ears drooped completely.

If I don’t make this properly, I don’t think an apology will be enough…?